Computer Science is the flagship graduate program at NJIT's Ying Wu College of Computing, and it's one of the biggest reasons international students, especially from India, target NJIT in the first place: a STEM-designated, ABET-accredited degree at a public R1 research university, in the New York metro job market, with an admissions bar that rewards a solid GPA and technical background rather than requiring an elite-tier academic profile. For students weighing NJIT CS against pricier private options, the pitch is straightforward: comparable technical rigor and a genuinely strong regional tech/finance job market, at a fraction of the cost of a private research university.
This article covers what it actually takes to get into NJIT's MS in Computer Science: acceptance rate, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and what graduates go on to do.
Acceptance Rate
NJIT does not publish a program-specific acceptance rate for the MS in Computer Science. The closest available figures:
- A third-party source (Niche) estimates the Ying Wu College of Computing's overall graduate acceptance rate at around 66%, across all of its master's programs, not Computer Science alone. Treat this as a third-party estimate, not an NJIT-confirmed number.
- NJIT's own published admission policy states that applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in a relevant computing background are generally assured admission into MS programs offered by the college, which functions as NJIT's clearest public signal of its actual admissions bar for this program.
- Students who don't meet that bar directly aren't automatically rejected: NJIT offers a Graduate Certificate in Computer Science as a structured pathway, and completing it with a GPA of 3.0 or higher guarantees admission into the MS program.
Bottom line: treat NJIT CS as meaningfully more attainable than the small handful of hyper-selective CS master's programs (Stanford, CMU, MIT), while still requiring a genuine, competitive undergraduate record, since the "GPA 3.0 = assured admission" policy is conditioned on having the right computing background, not just any 3.0 GPA.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
NJIT charges graduate tuition per credit rather than a flat annual rate, and the exact per-credit rate varies slightly by program and campus (Newark main campus vs. the Jersey City graduate campus vs. fully online offerings). Based on NJIT's published figures:
| Cost item | Amount (USD/year, estimate) |
|---|---|
| Tuition & mandatory fees | ~$40,000-41,000/year (per-credit basis; confirm exact rate for your specific track) |
| Living expenses (Newark/NY metro area) | ~$21,650-$24,836/year (NJIT's own published living-cost range, on-campus vs. off-campus) |
| Health insurance | |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | ~$63,000-68,000/year (Gabble estimate combining the components above; NJIT does not publish one combined graduate total) |
A typical MS in Computer Science runs 30-36 credits depending on specialization track and prior coursework, which puts total program cost (excluding living expenses) in a rough $45,000-$55,000 range for the degree itself, well below comparable master's programs at private research universities in the same metro area. NJIT's international graduate application fee is $75. International students are not eligible for US federal aid, but competitive applicants can pursue departmental teaching or research assistantships that combine a stipend with partial tuition remission; these are genuinely competitive within Computer Science given its popularity, so apply early and reach out to faculty or the department directly if funding is a priority.
Admission Requirements
- Completed graduate application through NJIT's application portal
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- An undergraduate degree in computing or a closely related field, with exposure to object-oriented programming and foundational computer science coursework
- GPA of 3.0 or higher strongly recommended for a direct MS admit (NJIT's own stated policy: 3.0+ with relevant background is generally assured admission)
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation (typically two to three)
- Resume/CV
- English proficiency scores (unless exempt; see below)
- International applicants holding a degree from an accredited US institution can request a waiver of standardized test requirements
- $75 international graduate application fee
NJIT does not publish a required GRE policy specific to Computer Science on its main admissions pages; confirm current GRE requirements directly with the Ying Wu College of Computing before applying, since STEM master's programs nationally have moved away from requiring it in recent cycles.
How to Get Into NJIT's Computer Science Program
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Hit the 3.0 GPA threshold with a genuinely relevant computing background, since this is NJIT's own stated policy for assured admission, not just a soft guideline. A 3.0 GPA from an unrelated major without the required computing coursework does not carry the same weight.
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Use the Graduate Certificate pathway deliberately if your GPA or background falls short. Rather than treating a below-3.0 GPA as disqualifying, NJIT explicitly designed the certificate-to-MS pathway for this situation. Completing the certificate with a 3.0+ GPA guarantees your MS admission, making it a legitimate strategic route rather than a consolation prize.
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Choose a specialization focus early and reflect it in your statement of purpose. The MS in Computer Science allows specialization in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Hyperscale Computing, or Software Engineering; naming a specific track and connecting it to your prior projects or coursework signals genuine intent over a generic "I want to study CS" application.
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Submit strong letters of recommendation from people who can speak to technical work, ideally professors or supervisors who directly observed your programming, project, or research ability, since this carries more weight than general character references.
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Request test-score waivers correctly if eligible. If you hold a degree from an accredited US institution, confirm your waiver eligibility with the department directly rather than assuming it applies automatically, so you don't lose time to a missing document late in the process.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
NJIT's graduate-level English proficiency policy applies to Computer Science applicants:
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 79
- IELTS Academic: minimum 6.5, with no individual band below 6.0
- Duolingo English Test: minimum 120
- PTE Academic: minimum 57
Waiver: the requirement is waived for applicants holding a degree from an accredited US institution, and for applicants from specific English-speaking countries on NJIT's official exemption list.
For the full breakdown of NJIT's testing policy at both the undergraduate and graduate level, see the NJIT university guide.
Career Outcomes
NJIT does not publish outcomes broken out specifically for the MS in Computer Science, but the university's broader master's-level and computing-focused outcomes data serve as a strong proxy, since CS is one of the college's largest and most in-demand programs:
- Master's-level job placement rate (university-wide): approximately 89.7%, per NJIT's own Career Development Services outcomes reporting
- Average master's starting salary (university-wide): approximately $83,494; Computer Science graduates specifically, especially those going into software engineering and data/AI roles, typically place at or above this blended average given the strength of demand for computing skills
- Top recruiters of NJIT graduates: Amazon, Google, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Goldman Sachs, and Apple
- STEM OPT: the MS in Computer Science is STEM-designated, qualifying graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT period, for up to three years of US work authorization post-graduation
NJIT's location in the Newark/New York metro corridor gives Computer Science graduates direct proximity to one of the densest tech and financial-services job markets in the US, which is a meaningful practical advantage over otherwise comparable programs in less connected regions.
FAQ
Does NJIT publish a separate acceptance rate for the MS in Computer Science? No. NJIT does not release a program-level acceptance rate. The clearest available signal is NJIT's own policy that a 3.0 GPA or higher with a relevant computing background generally assures admission; a third-party estimate (Niche) puts the broader Ying Wu College of Computing graduate acceptance rate at around 66%.
Is the GRE required for NJIT's MS in Computer Science? NJIT's public admissions pages do not list a firm GRE requirement for this program; confirm the current policy directly with the Ying Wu College of Computing before applying, since this can shift between cycles.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for NJIT Computer Science? The graduate minimum is IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL 79. Duolingo (120) and PTE (57) are also accepted.
How much does NJIT's MS in Computer Science cost? Tuition runs on a per-credit basis, roughly $40,000-41,000/year at full-time pace, or about $45,000-55,000 for the full 30-36 credit degree, not including living expenses (NJIT's own published living-cost range is roughly $21,650-$24,836/year).
What happens if my GPA is below 3.0? NJIT offers a Graduate Certificate in Computer Science as a structured pathway: completing it with a 3.0 GPA or higher guarantees admission into the MS program, without needing to reapply from scratch.
Is NJIT's Computer Science degree STEM-OPT eligible? Yes. It is STEM-designated, qualifying international graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension in addition to the standard 12-month OPT period.